Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has made a significant political move by defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The formal announcement was made during a high-profile ceremony at the Government House in Uyo on Friday, June 6, 2025.
The political event attracted prominent APC figures from across Nigeria, underscoring the significance of Governor Eno’s defection. His decision marks a major shift in the state’s political dynamics, especially as Akwa Ibom has traditionally been considered a PDP stronghold.
“After completing the rounds of my consultation as your servant whom you have elected to serve, I have therefore decided to move to the APC progressively,” Eno declared.
“We’re not joining the APC from a position of weakness, but from a position of strength. We’re bringing value to Akwa Ibom State. We’ve come into the APC with a ministry of reconciliation,” the governor added.
Several notable political figures, including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu, and Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, attended the defection ceremony. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, wife of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, was also present.
Eno, who won the 2023 gubernatorial election on the PDP platform and was previously considered a close political ally of former Governor Udom Emmanuel, has now triggered a significant realignment in Akwa Ibom’s political landscape. His switch to the ruling party represents a clear departure from his earlier political affiliations.
This development reduces the number of states currently governed by the PDP to ten: Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Enugu, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Taraba, and Zamfara. The shift further consolidates the APC’s position as the dominant political party in Nigeria, adding another state to its expanding roster of controlled territories.
